The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-30
BIRNINGHiM'S BOOM.
10000 WORTH OF BUSINESS
BUILDINGS
Now In Course OF Erection, Plain
Witnesses to the Truth OF q
Real Progress.
To tho Editors Of the Appeal:

OF an interview which q reporter OF
that paper had with the Rev. Mr..
Drain OF Baton Rouge, La In regard
to the boom which Birmingham, Ala,
ha. been enjoying fjr some time past.
/ was much impressed with most Of
the statements Of the gentleman, e.
pecally as they were 30 much at var
lance with what others had reported,
to cay nothing OF my own observa-
tions as TO Birmingham's progress for
the last several years. A short time
after tle publication Of the interview
in question, paid Birmingham svisit,
and the object OF this communication
is TO give a full, fair, and truthful
statement OF what l saw Of the growth
and prosperity OF that wonderful and
and progressive Southern city. After
carefully looking over the ground, l
was at loss to conceive how the Rev.
Mr.. Drain arrived at many Of his con-
clueions, unless they came through a
prejudice brought about perhaps by
the fact that he found the citizens Of
Birmingham much less interested in
assisting in building a church in Baton
Rouge, La, than they were in build
ing iron furnaces and other public en-
terp ises In their own city. Perhaps
II he had obtained $1,000 as q donation
towards his church instead Of ole
tenth of that amount, he would
have at least saved the Ava
Idpchs the trouble OF declin.
ing to publieh Tefutation OF his
wild and unwarranted statement.
For some years past have been in
the habit Of visiting Birmingham at
intervals OF a year or two, and each
time / have thought that surely II has
reached Its climax; but upon return.
ing ! bave always found It's prosperity
still deepening and widening, My
last visit there was no exception to
the rule in this particular, except in
this fact, that the progress Of the city
within the last twelve months had
been simply marvellous. Yetthe Rev.
Mr.. Drain, who was there only a week
or leeB before my last visit, only saw
two houses going up, zone brick
church and the other frame bust
ness house." Ishall not attempt to
answer his various statements in de-
tail, but will give below list OF the
houses that were going up when l
was there; and, as Mr.. Diain was 30
far from being accurate In regard to
the building going on, l think we can
safely make very liberal deductions
from all Of his other statements.
Mind you, my rotations OF buildings
were made In the heart or business
portion Of the city only. ! took no
note OF either recently completed
buildings or buildings for which con-
tracts had been let unless work had
been begun. I only noted those
which were in actual course Of con-
struction. My note book shows them
as follows, and my information is my
own eyes az to the work aud the archi-
tects or owners statements rs TO the
other facts in regard to them.
Four iron front business houses
three stories high, 30xlS21 feet on
First avenue, between Twentieth and
Twenty-hrst streets, to cost 100000
each; two lots above, two four story
business houses, 50x100 feet, to cost
$4,000; corner Twenty.second street
and First avenue, the Caldwell House,
144x135 Ieet, six stories high, to
cost $l75,000; Morris Building, First
avenue and Nineteenth streets,
l00x1821, five stories, cost $3.50, 900;
this building is being erected for
offices, rs we'll as the postoAice; on
Twenty Fl rst street, between Seco nd
and Third avenues, 30xl20, a four
story business houae TO cost $50 900 (;
First Presbyterian Church, Twenty.
fret street and Fourth avenue, fine
brick building with stone foundation,
to cost $50, 600; New Jefferson County
Jail, cost $4,000; Second avenue, be,
tween Twentieth and Twenty-first
streets, a three story business house,
25xl20 feet, to cost $4,000; Morris
avenue, between Twenty second and
Twenty third streets, three story
warehouse, 100Xl823, to cost 800, 600;
Twenty second street, between Second
and Third avenue, business house
40x75, to cost $4,000; Twenty fret
street, between Second and Third
avenues, 40xl00, Alabama Club Build
ing, four stories, to cost $4,000; on
Twentv-hrst street, between Second
aud Third avenues, the Drennen
Building, 50xl40, four atories high,
to coat $4,000; on Twentieth street
two three story business houses, 25xS0
to cost $1,000 each; Fourth avenue
between Nineteenth and Twentieth
streets, business house, 40x40, tC
cost $4,000; on opposite side Of
the came street the Hawking building
25xS0 feet, TO cost $1,000; on Nine
teentu street, between Third and
Fourth avenues, the Yates Building
four stories, 40xl00, to cost $4,000
IIyou will figure little on this list
you will sse that there are now over
f750,000 worth OF houses being erected
in Birmingham, notwithstanding Mr.
Di.ia only saw two, zone brick
church and the other frame business
house" Not one Of the building
which have mentioned is q frame
structure. was told that there were
athOueaud or more dwellings being
built, bat did not attempt to emu,
nitrate them, thought DO not doubt the
Statement. Mr.. Beaumont, Of Chicago
has been employed by the Elytor
Land Company to put up 500 resi-
dences, and he is already at work on
them. The basis OF Brmingham's
property is her coal aad iron, backed
by SNIP capital, with as much snsI
and enterprise as csn be fouud any
where in the United States. There
are TOW twelve blast furnaces beins
erect. within radius OF five miles o
the city. The water question will soou
be solved. The Elyton Land Com
pAny,with its characteristic enterprise
IL now building Z06 acre lake eigh
miles north of the city, from which
the citizens OF Birmingham will bl
supplied With pure, clear mountain
ciesk water. This water will b,
taken to b rmingham through a cana
bricked and oemented, and will be
free from contamination. Such pro
gress and enterprise as the history O
Birmingham is iurn shing should be 4
mater Of pride TO the people of tn,
South, and when croskers cry dowI
her property they should confn,
themselves TO facts, and when thew d,
not fair and enterprising public Jour
nails, who are true fiencs OF S lutherr
ill NOT Al -